Japanese singer-songwriter Keina Suda has released his new digital single, “悪夢 (Nightmare),” marking the beginning of a new musical era ahead of his upcoming third major album, LOVE HATE. Available now on streaming platforms, the emotionally charged ballad serves as the first original song revealed from the album, which is scheduled to be released on September 9, 2026.
Best known to many anime and Vocaloid fans as the producer Balloon, Suda uses “悪夢 Nightmare” to introduce the central emotional themes that define LOVE HATE. Rather than presenting love and hate as opposing forces, the song explores how those emotions can coexist, transforming kindness into pain and affection into resentment.
The release is accompanied by a new music video directed by Takumi Osera, further expanding on the song’s themes through striking visual storytelling.
“悪夢 Nightmare” explores the contradictions of human emotion
Beginning with a gentle piano melody before gradually building into a dramatic orchestral arrangement, “悪夢 Nightmare” mirrors the emotional escalation found within its lyrics.
The song examines the contradictions people often experience in relationships, asking how love can become hatred, how acts of kindness can leave lasting wounds, and why pain can sometimes become a source of comfort. Those ideas also serve as the emotional foundation for LOVE HATE, giving listeners an early look into the album’s overall concept.
Reflecting on the new single, Keina Suda described the song in simple but powerful terms:
“It’s like kindness turning into thorns. Love transforming into hatred. Finding comfort in pain. This is a song about foolish human beings.”
The accompanying music video builds upon those ideas. Directed by Takumi Osera, it depicts a fragile world suspended between despair and acceptance, presenting beauty that exists precisely because suffering cannot always be escaped.
LOVE HATE arrives this September
“悪夢 Nightmare” is the first brand-new song revealed from LOVE HATE, Suda’s first full-length album in approximately three years.
The 16-track record will include several songs released over the past few years, including anime theme songs “ユートピア (Utopia),” “ラストルック (Last Look),” and “ラブル (Rubble),” alongside drama tie-ins such as “ユーエンミー (You and Me)” and “リベラ (Libera).” Fan favorites including “ミーム (meme)” and a newly reimagined version of “WOLF” featuring the rock band Hitorie will also appear on the album, together with six entirely new tracks led by “悪夢 Nightmare.”
